Bulgarian delivery driver stole £4,000 worth of parcels in South Normanton

Todor Dimitrov Genov, 37, started working for Yodel but when a large amount of parcels went missing the delivery company launched an investigation, according to Chesterfield magistrates’ court.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop told the court hearing: “The defendant came to the UK and almost immediately began working for Yodel delivering and collecting parcels.

“At the time of the offence he had been working one week alone having completed two weeks of training.

“He was responsible for a particular postcode and that made up his round but it was noticed that an unusual amount of parcels were going missing during this period.”

The court heard during a sentencing hearing on November 23 how an operations manager visited Genov’s home where a large quantity of stolen parcels were recovered.

Mrs Allsop added: “Some were in packaging and other items had been opened and they matched a list of missing items.

“The total value of recovered items was estimated to be worth £4,000. They consisted of electrical items and clothing.”

Genov, who has since moved to Shobnall Road, Burton-on-Trent, told police he had been in the UK for three weeks and had been working for Yodel during this time.

He admitted to officers that he stole the parcels but he had never done anything like it before.

Probation officer Katie Webberley revealed how Genov moved to the UK to find work so he could support his wife and child in Bulgaria and he claimed he had not been paid when he committed the offences.

Defence solicitor Julie Page said: “He accepts that whatever his grievances regarding his salary his approach was not the right way to go about things.

“Inevitably, he lost his employment and he has suffered significantly in terms of himself and being able to provide for his family.”

Genov, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the theft which was committed in August.

District Judge Andrew Davison told Genov: “It’s a serious offence to steal from your employer in both Bulgaria and the UK.

“What makes this so serious is that this offence was committed very deliberately shortly after you came to the UK.

“You got yourself a job and you breached the trust of your employer and I don’t believe there was time to have had a dispute over pay.

“That breach of trust involved high valued, stolen goods when the public are entitled to expect their parcels to be delivered by trustworthy companies and trustworthy staff.”

District Judge Davison added that he could spare Genov from being jailed because he had no previous convictions for theft or dishonesty.

Genov, who now works at a carwash, was sentenced to 18 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with 120 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay an £80 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a £180 courts charge.